NIGERIA: President Tinubu Praises Bank Of Industry For Record N636 Billion Disbursement In 2025

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the Bank of Industry (BOI) for achieving a historic N636 billion in loan disbursements to businesses in 2025, marking the highest annual financing volume in the institution’s history and a strong validation of his administration’s economic reform agenda.

In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the milestone as clear evidence that macroeconomic reforms are strengthening development finance institutions and unlocking long-term capital for productive sectors.

The N636 billion supported more than 7,000 enterprises nationwide.

Sectoral breakdown shows N202 billion went to agro-allied businesses, N100 billion to critical infrastructure including broadband, power, aviation and transportation, N79 billion to manufacturing, N77 billion to extractive industries, and N55 billion to services. Additionally, BOI deployed N73 billion in managed and matching funds for state governments and institutional partners.

President Tinubu stated, “The N636 billion disbursed by the Bank of Industry in 2025 translates directly into productive capacity across Nigeria. It financed agro-processing expansion, strengthened manufacturing output, supported infrastructure delivery, and empowered thousands of enterprises across our states. At a time of global financing constraints, Nigeria expanded access to long-term capital for its businesses. That is a direct outcome of reform, credibility, and institutional discipline.”

Disbursements by business size reflected deliberate inclusion: nano enterprises received N51 billion, micro businesses N32 billion, small and medium enterprises N178 billion, and large enterprises N375 billion. Under the Federal Government’s N200 billion MSME intervention programme, BOI achieved over 95 percent performance. The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme reached 957,400 beneficiaries in 2025 alone.

The financing activities created and retained approximately 1.6 million jobs while supporting more than 7,000 MSMEs and 570 startups. Inclusive initiatives delivered measurable impact: the Guaranteed Loans for Women Programme provided N10 billion to women-owned enterprises, youth-owned businesses accessed N12 billion, and 880 rural enterprises under the Rural Area Programme on Investment for Development received over N6.5 billion.

Strategic interventions included upgrading a tomato processing facility from 3.1 to 10 metric tonnes per hour, linking 47,508 smallholder farmers to formal value chains, deploying 100 mini-grids that connected 11,777 new customers to electricity, and contributing to an estimated annual reduction of over 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises programme, 500 founders were investment-ready, 100 tech ventures funded, and 400 youths trained, reaching over 300,000 Nigerians.

President Tinubu commended BOI’s strong asset quality, with a non-performing loan ratio below 1.5 percent despite economic challenges, and noted the €2 billion syndicated facility secured in 2024 plus an additional €210 million mobilised in 2025, which bolstered lending capacity.

He added: “Development finance must be disciplined, measurable, and aligned with national priorities. What we are witnessing is the transition from strategy to scale. Our economic transformation will be built on production, value addition, and enterprise growth. We will continue to crowd in capital, deepen institutional reform, and ensure that access to finance supports real sector expansion across Nigeria.”

The President welcomed BOI’s designation as Nigeria’s first National Implementing Entity to the United Nations Adaptation Fund and its recognition for sustainable finance and financial inclusion, describing these as enhancing Nigeria’s global standing in development finance. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to consolidating reforms and expanding credit access to drive industrialisat

ion and inclusive growth.